A Functionally Different Immune Phenotype in Cattle Is Associated With Higher Mastitis Incidence.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Immunology
• Cattle Health
• Pathogen-Host Interactions

Background:

• Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) vaccination can induce pathogenic antibodies in a subset of cows.
• These antibodies, transferred via colostrum, cause Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) in calves with high lethality.
• The precise immunological mechanisms underlying BNP and the associated immune phenotype remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immunological mechanisms behind Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP).
• To characterize the immune phenotype of cows producing pathogenic antibodies.
• To explore the potential genetic predisposition and clinical relevance of this immune deviant (ID) phenotype.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the immune proteome from lymphocytes of BNP-affected and non-responder cows.
• In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood derived lymphocytes (PBL) to assess immune response.
• Retrospective study correlating the immune deviant (ID) phenotype with health parameters and disease prevalence.

Main Results:

• Deviant expression levels of immune response regulators were detected in BNP-affected cow lymphocytes, indicating a dysregulated immune phenotype.
• This immune deviant (ID) phenotype was identified in 22% of non-BVD-vaccinated cows, suggesting a genetic predisposition.
• A significantly increased prevalence of mastitis was observed in ID cows, highlighting clinical relevance.

Conclusions:

• A specific immune deviant (ID) phenotype is associated with pathogenic antibody production and Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP).
• This phenotype may have a genetic basis and is linked to increased susceptibility to diseases like mastitis.
• Understanding this immune dysregulation is crucial for improving cattle health and vaccine safety.